This book chronicles the life in 19th-century Huizhou through the lens of an ordinary villager, reconstructing the intricate tapestry of his world through meticulous analysis of four decades of daily records by the protagonist and his family. Connected this individual’ s life with his social world, the narrative unveils the multifaceted dimensions of rural existence, from farming and trade to food, clothing, social ties, and emotional bonds; from perceptions of time and space to literacy practices; from ritual performances to political engagements, alongside the shifting contours of these domains over time.